Food Supply

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided to local food chain initiatives in the last 12 months; and which such initiatives received that funding.

Jim Fitzpatrick: During the past 12 months (from 4 February 2009) £11,806,666 has been committed under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) to support local food chain initiatives. This funding is administered by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and the breakdown of spend by region is as follows:
	
		
			  RDA  RDPE spend (£) 
			 North East RDA 2,656,337 
			 Advantage West Midlands 583,228 
			 East Midlands 648,847 
			 South West RDA 2,850,000 
			 North West RDA 1,776,242 
			 South East RDA 2,590,536 
			 East England DA 301,476 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 400,000 
			 Total 11,806,666 
		
	
	In the same period, RDAs have also provided £4,385,078 from their single pot to support local food chain initiatives, to which DEFRA makes a contribution. The RDPE and single pot money is supporting a range of initiatives including the funding of delivery organisations in the region, support for individual food producers and retail outlets, food hubs and farmers' markets.
	In addition, the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) was awarded a DEFRA Agricultural Development Scheme grant of £176,000 over three years from January 2008, £63,500 of which has been provided within the last 12 months. The award was for a project aimed at improving performance in the farm 'direct sales' sector by means of a producer verification scheme for farmers' markets, and an assurance scheme for farm shops.